American green crab spider

(Misumessus oblongus)

Conservation Status
IUCN Red List

not listed

NatureServe

NNR - Unranked

Minnesota

not listed

 
American green crab spider
Photo by Alfredo Colon
 
Description

American green crab spider is a small bristly spider. It occurs in the United States and southern Canada east of the Great Plains, and in northern Mexico. It is uncommon in Minnesota, where it reaches the western extent of its range. It is found from May through August in prairies, fields, and woodlands.

The female is 316 to ¼ (4.45 to 6.01 mm) in length. There are numerous bristles on the body. The plate (carapace) covering the front part of the body (cephalothorax) is low, convex on the sides, and about as long as wide. It is pale green to dull yellow or red. It has no spots or longitudinal bands. It has a few spines but is nearly devoid of erect stiff hairs (setae). The abdomen is flattened, broadly oval, and widest near the rear. It is usually white, often pale yellow, sometimes yellow. There are sometimes broad red bands on the lateral margins.

The legs match the carapace in color. The front two pairs of legs are thicker and much longer than the others, and are normally held out and forward, like a crab. This is the feature that gives the family Thomisidae its common name. There is a pair of minute claws at the end of the legs but these are not visible without magnification.

There are eight eyes arranged in two curved rows of four. All of the eyes are on low raised projections (tubercles). The area enclosed by the eyes is often entirely white, pink, or red. On most individuals, at least some of the the tubercles are white or pink. In the front row the outermost eyes, the anterior lateral eyes (ALE), are a little larger than the interior eyes, the anterior median eyes (AME). In the back row the posterior lateral eyes (PLE) are directed sideways and backwards. They are not visible when the spider is viewed from the front. The jaws (chelicerae) are small and have no teeth.

The male is much smaller, (2.56 to 2.96 mm) in length. The carapace has a few erect setae and has thin red bands on the lateral margins. The abdomen has a sparse covering of short setae and no red bands. The legs have dark red bands.

 

Size

Female Body Length: 316 to ¼ (4.45 to 6.01 mm)

Male Body Length: (2.56 to 2.96 mm)

 

Web

Crab spiders do not make webs.

 

Similar Species

 
Habitat

Prairies, fields, and woodlands

Biology

Season

May through August

 

Behavior

When the legs are held out to the side the spider is able to walk forward, backward, or sideways (laterigrade).

When hunting, the spider will sit, often in a flower and often for hours, waiting in ambush for prey.

The female does not build webs, snares, or retreats. To protect its egg sac it will fold over the edge of a leaf and secure it with silk.

 

Life Cycle

The male is tiny compared to the female. To mate without first being eaten, it must first tie up the female with silk. After mating, the female easily breaks the restraints.

 

Food

Insects and other spiders

Distribution

Distribution Map

 

Sources

24, 29, 30, 82.

7/1/2024    
     

Occurrence

Uncommon in Minnesota

Taxonomy

Class

Arachnida (arachnids)

Order

Araneae (spiders)

Suborder

Araneomorphae (typical spiders)

Infraorder

Entelegynae

Superfamily

Thomisoidea (crab and running crab spiders)

Family

Thomisidae (crab spiders)

Subfamily

Thomisinae

Tribe

Misumenini

Genus

Misumessus

   

Until recently, this was the only species in the subgenus Misumessus of the genus Misumenops. In 2008 the subgenus was raised to genus level. Until 2017 it remained the only species in Misumessus.

   

Subordinate Taxa

 

   

Synonyms

Misumena americana

Misumena oblonga

Misumenops oblonga

   

Common Names

American green crab spider

green crab spider

pale crab spider

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Carapace

The hard, upper (dorsal), shell-like covering (exoskeleton) of the body or at least the thorax of many arthropods and of turtles and tortoises. On crustaceans, it covers the cephalothorax. On spiders, the top of the cephalothorax made from a series of fused sclerites.

 

Cephalothorax

The front part of a spider’s body, composed of the head region and the thoracic area fused together. Eyes, legs, and antennae are attached to this part.

 

Chelicerae

The pair of stout mouthparts, corresponding to jaws, in arachnids and other arthropods in the subphylum Chelicerata.

 

Seta

A stiff, hair-like process on the outer surface of an organism. In Lepidoptera: A usually rigid bristle- or hair-like outgrowth used to sense touch. In mosses: The stalk supporting a spore-bearing capsule and supplying it with nutrients. Plural: setae.

 

Tubercle

On plants and animals: a small, rounded, raised projection on the surface. On insects and spiders: a low, small, usually rounded, knob-like projection. On slugs: raised areas of skin between grooves covering the body.

 

 

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Julie P

American green crab spider  

American green crab spider

Sis

American green crab spider

Alfredo Colon

American green crab spider    
     
American green crab spider   American green crab spider
     
American green crab spider   American green crab spider
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Other Videos

FREE HANDLING A AMERICAN GREEN CRAB SPIDER (misumessus oblongus)
Mango Juice

About

Aug 3, 2020

Hey guys.

So today's free handling video is me free handling a american green crab spider. This spider was calm as the Spitting spider, but wouldn't move that much.

I hope you guys enjoyed today's video.

Like and Subscribe, turn on notifications and I'll see you guys tomorrow.

Bye. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Flower Crab Spider (Misumessus Oblongus) Female
David Thompson

About

Aug 8, 2016

 

Camcorder

Visitor Sightings
 

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Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
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Julie P
9/15/2024

Location: Lake St. Croix Beach, MN

American green crab spider

Sis
6/30/2024

Location: Lafayette, Indiana

American green crab spider
Alfredo Colon
8/8/2022

Location: Albany, NY

American green crab spider
Jon Nicholson
8/5/2022

Location: New Hartford Twp., Winona County, inside home

Alfredo Colon
5/30 to 6/1/2021

Location: Woodbury, MN

American green crab spider
Alfredo Colon
August 2019

Location: Slinger, Wisconsin

American green crab spider
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings

 

 

 

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Created: 8/21/2021

Last Updated:

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